Dual-position spring switch



M. C. GARLICK -'Feb'.24,1925. I 1,521,512

,DUAL POSITION SPRING SWITCH Filed Oct. 29. 1925 ATTORNEY Patented Feb.24, 1925.

'MAURICE C. GAB/LICK, O'F EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

DUAL-POSITION SPRING SWITCH.

Application filed October 29, 1923. Serial No. 671,516.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MAURICE C. GAnLioK, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Easton, county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dual- PositionSpring Switches, of which the foldevice controlling the operation of theswitch tongue so confined that the switch may be converted at will intoa simple or one-sided spring switch, in which the spring tongue isspring held againstthe rail on one side thereof, and the arrangementpreferably is such that when so converted into a simple or one rail typeof spring switch the tongue may be spring held against the rail oneither of its two sides.

The invention also preferably includes the provision of a dash-potdevice adapted to permit rapid closing of the switch tongue under theinfluence of its spring during the first part of the closing movement,with a slower final closing movement of the switch tongue as it isbrought into contact with the rail.

The inventionin the preferred form further includes a construction andarrange ment of parts adapted to make use of a pull or expansion springfor pulling the switch tongue against the rail in place of the usualpush or compression spring, which is readily clogged with dirt, ice andthe like.

The pull. or expansion type of spring is to a, considerable extentself-cleaning, as the closing of the switch tongue against the railnormally occurs practically immediately after the movement of the switchtonguev away from the rail, which is accompanied. by the opening of thepull or expansion spring, and such spring is not readily clogged withdirt, ice or anything else tending to produce clogging or interfere withproper spring action, and is practically impossible to put out ofoperation in the course of ordinary use.

Other preferred features of the invention include the provision of asimple means for adjusting the tension of the spring, and theconstruction of the parts so that multiple or spare parts can beprovided, which are readily assembled and can be replaced in case ofwear or for other reasons, in a very simple and efficient manner andwith a minimum of expense, time and trouble, and by cheap, unskilledlabor, and entirely or practically without the use of tools.

Other objects of the'iuvention will appear in connexion with thefollowing description of an embodiment thereof shown in the accompanyingdrawings, but it is to be understood that such illustratedembodiment isonly for the purpose of afiording an understanding of the invention andnot for limitation of the invention, which is as broad as my claims, andmay be embodied in a variety of forms and involve various modificationsand changes of the form shown for illustrative purposes.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view on reduced scale with a box orhousing containing the switch actuating device as closed, and showingthe relation thereof to the track or rails. Fig. 2 is an enlargedpartial plan view with the box or housing cover partially broken away.Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2, but with the coverentirely removed, and with the rocking lever in the opposite positionfrom that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to a part of Fig. 2,and illustrating the operation of the rocking lever confining meanswhich serve to convert the motion of the switch tongue from dualmovement to a one-sided movement, or in other words to convert theswitch into a simple one-sided spring switch. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection on the broken line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectionon the line 66, Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through thedash-pot cylinder.

7 The switch tongue 10 is pivoted at 11 between the rail members 12, 12.Switch tongue 10 is provided on its under side with a downwardlyprojecting lug 13 which extends through the hole 1 1- formed in theswitch base 15. A box or housing 16 is arranged alongside one oftherails 12, and this box or housing, which is preferably formed as a metalcasting, contains the switch actuating device. It is provided with acover 17 which is received in the groove or recess 18 of the box orhousing 16 provided for this purpose. Aligned openings 19, 20 are inline with the hole 21 formed in the downwardly projecting lug 13 of theswitch tongue 10.

Lid 17 is provided with a perfectly depressed portion 22 in which areformed the holes 23, 24, 25. These holes are adapted to receive the bail26, one leg 27 whereof is preferably permanently received pivotally inthe'hole 23 and may be provided at its lower end with a cotter pin 23,which, while permitting the bail to be lifted and turned, serves toprevent its complete removal, er:- cept when the cotter pin 23 is takenout.

The opposite leg 29 of bail 25 may be inserted in the hole 2%, in whichcase the bail is inoperative and out of the way and the device iscapable of use as a dual spring switch, or the bail may be raised andleg 29 thereof inserted through hole 25, whereby the movement of theactuating parts so arranged is to convert the device into a simpleunilateral type of springswitch. These parts will be referred to furtherin connection with the actuating elements of the device. The portion 22of lid 17 is preferably depressed as stated in order to re ceive thecross-connecting portion of bail 26, so that same will not projectupwardly beyond the top surface of the lid 1.

The switch actuating means preferably include the rod 30 which extendsthrough the hole 21 in the lug 13 of switch tongue 10, and is providedtherebeyond with a hole through which cotter pin 31 is passed, thusaffording a simple and readily removable form of connexion for impartingpull from rod 30 to switch tongue 10.

hen the device is used as a dual position switch it is necessary toimpart pushing action as well as pulling action to toe switch tongue 10,and for this purpose a loosely fitting sleeve 32 is provided to surroundthe rod 30 on the side of switch tongue 10 opposite the cotter pin 31.

The means for actuating members 30 and 32 preferably take the form of arocking lever having three arms (3, 33 and 33. Rocking lever 33 ispivoted at 33 on a bear ing lug 33, which extends upwardly from thefloor of the housing 16 and which is provided at its upper end with acotter pin 33 for holding the lever in position and preventing it fromlifting up. The arm 33 is provided with a horizontal slot 3a: throughwhich the rod 30 is passed. The sleeve 32 is shorter than red 30 anddoes not extend quite up to the lever arm 33 on the side thereof near tothe switch tongue 10, the rod 30, however, projecting beyond the leverarm 33 at the opposite side thereof. The lever arm 33 is preferablyprovided with substantially circular bearing parts 35, 35 locatedrespectively above and below the slot 34 and a joint is secured betweenthe lever 33 and the rod 30 and sleeve 32 by means of the washers 36,36, which are ar ranged on rod 30 and distributed as desired between theinner end of sleeve 32 and the cotter pin 37, which is passed through anopening provided in the rod 30 adjacent to the inner end thereof. In theillustrated form three of the washers 36 are arranged on one side tolever arm 33 and one washer 36 in the opposite side thereof, but thenumber and distribution of these washers and also the thickness thereofmay be varied at will, so to readily secure a simple and easily changedadjustable connexion between the lever arm 33 and the switch tongueactuating; sleeve 32 in rod 30. The lever arm 33 is preferably providednear its extreme end with openings for receiving a readily removable pin38, which serves as an end closure to slot 34 and prevents the partsfrom becoming disengaged and from gettin out of the proper relativepositions.

The expansion spring; actuating means for operating the switch tongue isapplied to arms 33 and 33 of lever In the form shown it is providedbetween the outwardly projecting arms 33 and 33 with the straight sideactuating portion 39, which is adapted to be engaged by a flanged roller40 which may traverse track or engaging portion 39 of lever 33 and isstopped at either end by the pro ecting arm portions 33 and 33respectively. Roller 4:0 is rotatably secured to the arm 11, which atits opposite end has a hook 42 adapted to hook into a loop or hook 43 onthe pull or expansion sprinlg 1 1. The opposite end of said spring M isprovided with a similar hook 45 adapted to hook into the breferablvround or twisted sidewise projecting loop portion ll) of cross-bar 1:7.Said cross-bar 4:7 is adapted to be received in undercut pairs ofnotches 4.3, .1-3 provided in a yoke member 4-9, the arms 50. 5]. ofwhich are detachably pivoted within the extension 16 of housing 16. andpreferably are pivotally received in the lugs 52. formed integrally withthe housing; walls and provided with a rounded seat for the preferalyrounded ends of the yoke arms 50, 51. In this way the yoke can bereadily removed or replaced and at the same time when in. place may beturned on the pivotal support provided therefor. Means are provided forsupplying a downward pivotal movement to yoke 49 so as to support samewellv above the floor of housing 16 andv to thereby protect it fromcontact with ice or other material freezing within the lower part ofhousing 16. In the form shown housing 16 is provided with a rib 5 Lhaving notches 55, 56 to receive the yoke arm 49 at the properelevation, It will be observed that when the yoke arm is depressed asshown in Fig. 5. the point of connexion of cross-bar 47 is below thepivotal support at 52 for the yoke 49. so that same is past Hi l thedead center with respect to the pivoting point of the yoke and therewould be no tendency of the yoke to rise due to pull on the spring 44.It will also be observed that spring 44 can be given any desired tensionby simply raising the yoke 49 on its pivots and placing the cross-bar 47in any desired pair of notches 48, the raising of the yoke serving toshorten the distance between the roller 40 and the cross-bar 47 and thatwhen the yoke 49 is depressed it serves both as a holding and astretching means for spring 44, which may be given any desired tensionby placing the cross-bar 46 in the appro priate pair of undercut notches48.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, the switch tongue isspring held against the rail on one side and is spring returned intocontact with the same rail even if it should be partially opened. Whenthe switch tongue is moved to the position against the opposite rail,as, for example, by means of a wheel flange or an implementsuch as aswitch bar, the lever 33 is turned on its pivot to the position shown inFig. 3, whereupon the wheel 40 and connected parts are pulled over intocontact with the switch arm extension 33 and with the parts in suchposition the switch tongue is spring held against the opposite rail.

In order to prevent violent contacting movement of the tongue intoengagement with the rail, I preferably provide a dash pot adapted topermit rapid movement of i the switch tongue and connected parts duringthe first operation of either movement, but to permit only a slowclosing movement. In the form shown I have provided a dashpot cylinder56 pivotally connected at one end as by the removable pin 57 to aportion of thehousing 16, and having its piston rod 58 pivotally anddetachably connected to the lever 33, as by means of pin 59 passingthrough the opening 60 in connecting rod 58 and the opening 6] in thelever Pin 59 may have a cotter 62 passing through its lower end, ifdesired.

The piston rod 58 of dash-pot 56 is provided with a. packing gland 63formed preferably in the screw cover 64 and the piston 65 is providedwith one or more relatively small openings 66 preferably located at ornear the upper side of piston 65. With this arrangement and with thecylinder 56 only partially filled with liquid, such as oil 67 it will beseen that in the first movement of piston 65 the piston and connectedparts may move relatively rapidly since only air is passing through theport or ports 66. Toward the latter part of the piston movement,however, during which time the oil is being forced through the port 66,the movement of piston 65 and connected parts is relatively retarded andwhile a firm seat of the switch tongue against the rail is perhen thebail 26 is positioned as shown,

in Figs. 2 and 5, the switch operates as already described, that is tosay, in facing point operation, as a car flange passes over the switchfrom point to heel thereof, the switch tongue is held firmly against therail,

and there is no possibility of derailment by the switch tongue beingmoved or shaken out of position between the time of passing of the wheelon the front and back trucks of the car. When the car is passing in theopposite direction, or from heel to point of switch tongue, the firstcar flange contacting with the switch tongue serves to throw the switchtongue to the opposite position, when it is held by the spring 44, theroller 40 being free to move on track 39 to the opposite end of lever33.

When switch tongue 10 is initially in the opposite direction, as shownin Fig. 3, with the spring actuated wheel 40 in coaction with theopposite end of the lever 33, the operation of the switch is the same asbefore,

except that in this case the movement of the switch tongue is in theopposite direction. If, however, the bail 26 is raised, turned andlowered. bringing the arm 29 thereof down through the hole 25, said arm29 serves as a stop for confining the movement of wheel 40 to the arm oflever with which the wheel 40 was in engagement at the time the bail wasmoved without, however, interfering with the full n'iovement of switchpoint 10 and lever 33. The interposition of the stop member 29 in themanner described (see Fig. 4) serves to convert the switch from a dualposition switch to a single position switch, since while the switch arm10 and lever 33 may be turned as before to bring the switch tongue 10into engagement with the opposite rail, the switch tongue cannot remainin such position, but is brought back to its initial position by reasonof the presence of stop arm 29 which prevents the roller 40 from shift,-ing to the opposite position along the track 39 of lever 33. With suchposition of the parts, when the switch tongue is opened by the flange ofa passing car wheel (moving heel to point) it is spring returned to itsinitial position against such rail and in or der to throw the switchtongue to the opposite side of the switch it is necessary first to raisethe bail 26, replacing it with the arm 29 in hole 24.

It will be seen that a switch constructed as described is very efiicientin operation, has an extensive range of utility, and that while ltit theparts are so connected and interrelated that they do not get out oforder in use, nevertheless their removal and replacement can beperformed practically as a simple manual operation and practicallywithout the use of any tools or least the very simplest and readily usedtools, and that any changes and replacements can be made in a very shortinterval of time and without any appreciable interference with thetratlic.

As stated above. changes and modifications may be resorted to within thespirit of the invention without sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A dual position switch, spring actuating means therefor including atrackway and a roller to travel the trackway, and removable stop meansinterposable in the path of said roller for converting the device into asingle position switch.

2. The combination of switch rails, a switch tongue pivotedtherebetwcen, and means for resiliently holding the tongue against therail on either side, said means including a double throw lever, atrackway on said lover, a roller to travel said trackway, and pull orexpansion spring means applied through said roller to said lever andadapted to pass a dead center with respect thereto.

3. The combination of switch rails, a switch tongue pivotedthcrcbetween, a double throw lver, means of connection between thetongue and lever, and a pull or expansion spring having atraveling connection with said lever and adapted to move past a dead center withrespect thereto, whereby the switch tongue may be held re silientlyagainst the rail on either side.

4-. The combination with switch rails having a switch tongue pivotedtherebebetween, of a double throw lever, adjustable means of push andpull connection be-- tween said lever and switch tongue, a pull orexpansion spring having a traveling connexion with said lever so as tobe movable past a dead center with respect thereto, and means foradjusting the tension on said spring.

5. In a spring switch, a pivoted switch tongue. a rod fastened theretoand extending generally at right angles to same, a double throw leverpivotally connected to the rod to throw same either way, and expansionspring means having a connexion with the double throw lever adapted topass dead center in each direction, and means of adjustment for saidspring including a pivoted yoke, a plurality of pairs of undercutnotches provided in said yoke, and a cross bar adapted to be received inany pair of said notches and having substantially midway thereof a loopfor receiving one end of said expansion sprin 6. Means for impartinglateral spring pull to a switch tongue comprising a rod extending atsubstantially a. right angle thereto, a rocking lever adapted to throwsaid rod in either direction, a roller mounted to travel on said rockinglever, a pull or expansion spring attached to said roller, and means foradjusting the tension of said spring comprising a pivoted yoke having aplurality of pairs of notches therein, a cross-bar having a loopsubstantially midway thereof for reception of one end of said spring andadapted to be placed in any pair of yoke notches, thereby varying thetension of said spring.

7. The combination with switch rails having a switch tongue pivotedtherebetween, of a double throw lever, adjustable means of connexionbetween the lever and the switch tongue comprising a control rod forpulling the switch tongue and a sleeve surrounding the rod for impartinga pushing movement thereto, a pull or expansion spring, a pivoted yokein which said spring is adjnstably mounted and traveling means ofconnexion between the lever and spring adapted to be moved past a deadcenter with respect to the lever, whereby the switch tongue isresiliently held against the rail on either side thereof after beingfirst forcibly moved to that side.

fl. The combination with switch rails having a switch tongue pivotedtherebetween, of a push and pull link connected to the switch tongue, alever having an arm adjustably connected to said link and adjustableboth for push and pull, said lever having a trackway at substantiallyright angles to the said arm. a pull or expansion spring having one endadjustably supported and having traveling means of connexion at itsother end adapted to travel on the trackway, whereby the switch arm isresiliently held against the rail on either side of the switch afterhaving been first moved to the said side thereof.

9. The combination with switch rails having a switch tongue pivotedtherebetween of spring means normally adapted to resiliently hold theswitch tongue against the rail on either side thereof, and manuallyinsertablc stop means for confining the movement of the switch tongue soas to cooperate with but one of the switch rails.

10. Means for imparting lateral spring pull. to a switch tongue.comprising a rod fastened to the switch tongue and extending atsubstantially a right angle to same. a double throw rocking leverpivotally connected to throw the rod either way, a roller adapted totravel on said lever, a tensionadjustable expansion spring actuatingsaid roller, and a bail adapted to be interposed at will in the path oftravel of the roller to thereby convert the double throw switch into asin le throw switch.

a n u 11. In a spring switch, a pivoted swltch tongue, a perforated lugextending down therefrom, a rod fastened to the lug and we tending atsubstantially a right angle to the switch tongue, a loose-fitting sleeveon said rod, a double throw rocking lever actuating said rod and sleeve,a roller adapted to travel on said rocking lever, a pivoted yoke havinga plurality of pairs of notches therein, a cross-bar adapted to lit inany pair of notches and having a loop substantially midway thereof, apull or expansion spring having one end detachably connected to saidloop, a rod pivoted at one end to the roller and having a loop on itsother end to rc ceive the other end of the spring, a buffer pivotallyconnected to one arm of the rocking lever, and a bail adapted to beinterposed in the path of travel of the roller on the rocking lever tothereby convert the double throw switch into a single throw switch.

12. The combination. with switch rails having a switch tongue pivotedtherebetween, of means normally adapted to resiliently hold the switchtongue against the rail on either side thereof, said means including alever and a spring having a traveling connexion therewith, and stopmeans manually insertable in the path of travel of the spring, wherebythe rail is temporarily spring held against but one of the switch rails.

13. The combination with switch rails having a switch tongue pivotedtherebe tween, of means for retracting the switch tongue against a railafter being moved away therefrom, said means including a double throwlever and a spring having a traveling connexion with the lever, a casingwherein the lever and spring are mounted,

and stop means insertable through a wall of the casing for limiting themovement of the traveling spring connexion with respect to the lever.

14. The combination with switch rails having a pivoted switch armtherebetween of means to resiliently hold the switch against eitherrail, said means comprising a trackway and a roller and removable stopmeans interposable in the pathway of the roller to confine the switchmovement at will to movement to and from the rail on but one sidethereof.

15. In combination, switch rails, a switch tongue pivoted between therails and having a downwardly extending perforated lug, a rod extendingthrough the hole in the lug and having a cotter pin on one side thereofand a sleeve thereabout on the other side thereof, said sleeve beingshorter than the rod, a lever having an arm with a slot therein throughwhich the rod extends and against which arm the sleeve abuts, adjustablestop means between said sleeve and rod and the lever arm comprisingwashers and a cotter pin, a trackway on the sideof the lever fulcrumopposite the said arm and extending at substantially right anglesthereto and having stops at its ends, a casing, a yoke pivotally andremovably mounted in the casing and said yoke having a series of notchesin its upper face, a stop for the yoke in the casing, whereby it issupported with the notches below its fulcrum, a cross-bar adapted to bereceived in any desired pair of notches, a pull or expansion springremovably attached to said cross-bar at one end, a wheel secured to theopposite end of the spring and adapted to traverse said trackway pastdead center on either side, a yoke adaptedv to be manually insertedthrough the casing lid to limit the movement of the wheel on thetrackway, a dash pot attached to the lever and adapted to slow up itsmovement as it is moved toward the rail, said dash pot comprising acylinder partially filled with fluid and a perforated piston within thecylinder.

16. A dual position spring switch, actuating means therefor, a cover forsaid actuating means, and manually operable stop means projecting to theexterior of the cover for converting the dual position spring switchinto a single position spring switch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name hereto.

MAURICE C. GARLICK.

